Medication dosage dispensing system and methods having customization and modification for medicine dispensing configurations

ABSTRACT

A patient customizes or modifies the doses of medicine(s) that is then reflected in the configuration of medicine packs created for the patient. The patient sends a request to the doctor or pharmacy to customize or modify the dosage schedule so that the patient takes the medicine when convenient or appropriate for him or her. The doctor or pharmacy approves the changes. These processes can occur over a network using devices to access the programs and records needed. The medicine is dispensed according to the configured packaging customization. A robot packing system receives the configuration instructions and creates the medicine packs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispensing daily doses of medications.More particularly, the present invention relates to the customizationand modification of daily dosages of medication for administration tothe patients.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Medication management systems play an integral part of long-term carefacilities. For example, companies recognized the need for pharmacies toprovide customers a secure, affordable and fully customized solution formedication management. Most patients rely upon the conventional processof a doctor and a pharmacist to make decisions about their dosing ofmedications.

For convenience and safety, pharmacies provide the service of prepackingmedications for patients using medicine trays. This process includeslooking at all the medications of a patient, and determining how often apatient needs to take the medications. The medications are placed withinpredefined slots, such as having slots for morning and afternoon.Medications in the morning slots are taken in the morning, and so on.

A patient may take a medication dosage based on the predefinedmedication slots that are filled by a pharmacist in the respectivetrays. For example, four slots per day (morning, noon, evening andnight) are configured within the tray. This example is shown in FIG. 1.Pack 102 includes various medications that are taken at different timesduring the day. As can be seen, the medications are identifiedgraphically to help the patient visualize when to take them. Pack 104shows additional medications taken during the day. As can be seen, thesemedications may differ from the ones within pack 102. Pack 106 and pack108 also show medications taken during different times of the day. Thus,a patient having the name of John Feelgood may use these four packswithin a week, as can be seen.

The medications are placed within their respective slots so that apatient merely takes the medications in the slot at the appointed time.The patient does not need to count out medications or try to guess ifthe last dosage was missed. Many facilities and organizations assistpatients by pre-filling the slots within medication packs.

Many patients prefer to take their medications in a manner that fitstheir lifestyle. This flexibility results in improved compliances,improved efficiency, reduced side effects, and reduced inconveniences.In fact, it may be said that the same medication regimen for two or morepatients may be taken in a different manner by each patient. When adoctor advises patients to take a medication twice a day, one patientmay take the medication in the early morning and the other dosage atbedtime. Meanwhile, another patient may take the same dosages afterbreakfast and before dinner.

Thus, patients should be given the choice on when to take their dosages.A doctor or a pharmacist, however, may need to verify the dosing changesrequested by a patient. For example, some medications are best takenbefore meals while others should be given with meals. Some medicationsare best taken in the morning while others are best taken at bedtime.This process is manual, cumbersome or non-existent.

Data is shared with pharmacies of common ownership, especiallyconvenience for patients as they can fill prescriptions at any of thesepharmacies. A patient, however, cannot allow their data to be accessibleat any pharmacy for dispensing without regard to ownership or applicablesoftware systems. Further, patients do not want to deal with multiplewebsites and services to indicate their preferences for making thedosage packs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address these issues, the disclosed embodiments allow patients tosecurely modify the dosage regimen relying on novel technology andautomated systems that provide tracking, security, accountability andefficiency. The disclosed embodiments give an opportunity to a patientto easily alter a schedule of intake of medications while receivingapproval from the doctor/pharmacist through supported channels ofcommunications. The disclosed embodiments also allow manual or automateddispensing of the doses at the dispensing place, i.e., pharmacy, ofchoice.

The disclosed embodiments set forth a novel method or process ofmodifying or customizing the dispensing of the daily doses ofmedications to patients. The disclosed embodiments also include aprocess of customizable dose modifications by patients, their caregiversand doctors to improve compliance and efficacy of the medications whilereducing possible side effects. The patient may access a database forthe pharmacy, the prescriber, the central store prescription database orthe insurance company so that the patient may view and modify the dosageor timing of their medication. The patient also may report or log anycommunications related to the medication.

The disclosed embodiments also provide for a method of automating theprocess of packaging the medications through technology and a network ofpharmacies in addition to manual dispensation. The disclosed embodimentsalso provide a method for packaging medication that displays detailedtimes for each dosage, thereby resulting in a user-friendly and anefficient packaging system.

The disclosed embodiments also include a unique robotics system thatallows the automation of the packs. The disclosed embodiments also showa distinct approach for optimizing the packaging of medications tosignificantly reduce the costs of packaging per unit pack per patient.This feature lowers costs for health care to providers and consumers.

The disclosed embodiments also set forth an innovative process whereinthe patient's medication records can be uploaded centrally with theirdosing preferences. This feature allows a patent to place a request fromany place to any pharmacy, regardless of the ownership of the pharmacyor facility, or any applicable computer system. The patient also mayobtain the medication in a preferred dosing or packaging.

The disclosed embodiments may store the default timings of medicationallowed for best efficacy. Some medications, for example, may only betaken at night. Thus, if a patient chooses to take a dose in themorning, then the system can require the prescriber's or pharmacist'sapproval. If a patient chooses a dose time in the allowable range oftime, then no professional intervention may be required. Similar datacan be maintained for two drugs, which interact if taken together, orfor preferred times in order to dismiss any worry.

A computer-implemented method for packaging medicine doses for a patientis disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes modifying orcustomizing a dosage schedule for at least one medicine. The patientselects a day or time to receive a dose of the at least one medicine.The computer-implemented method also includes uploading the modified orcustomized dosage schedule for approval by a doctor, caregiver orpharmacy using a device connected to a network. The computer-implementedmethod also includes receiving the approval for the modified orcustomized dosage schedule. The computer-implemented method alsoincludes dispensing the at least one medicine into a customized ormodified medicine pack according to the dosage schedule.

A robot packing system to create a customized or modified medicine packalso is disclosed. The robot packing system includes a drug cartridgehaving at least one medicine. The robot packing system also includes ahopper configured below the drug cartridge to receive the at least onemedicine. The robot packing system also includes a drop tray having adoor to receive the at least one medicine and to create a vial of the atleast one medicine. The robot packing system also includes a transferplate to receive the vial released from the drop tray and to place thevial into a holder according to a customized or modified dosageschedule. The robot packing system also includes a sealing station toseal the holder to form the medicine pack. The medicine pack isconfigured to provide the at least one medicine according to the dosageschedule.

A method for creating a medicine pack according to a dosage schedulealso is disclosed. The method includes modifying or customizing thedosage schedule by a patient selecting slots for a day or time to take adose of medicine. The method also includes sending the dosage scheduleover a network to a doctor, pharmacy or a caregiver. The method alsoincludes receiving approval for the dosage schedule. The method alsoincludes packaging the medicine into a medicine pack according to thedosage schedule.

A patient-pharmacy medicine management system also is disclosed. Thepatient-pharmacy medicine management system includes a device used by apatient to customize or modify a dosage schedule, and to upload thedosage schedule to a network. The patient-pharmacy medicine managementsystem also includes a medicine dispensing system connected to thenetwork and configured to create a medicine pack according to the dosageschedule. An approval is received by the medicine dispensing system by acaregiver for the dosage schedule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understandingof the invention and constitute a part of the specification. Thedrawings listed below illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention, as disclosed by the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional packaging configuration.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for packaging medications according to thedisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a robot packing system according to the disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 3 a illustrates another configuration of the robot packing systemaccording to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart customizing the medication dose by apatient or other party according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an improved packaging configuration ofpatient-customized medications according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sample of the labels used in a medication dosagedispensing system according to the disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying description.Alternate embodiments of the present invention and their equivalents aredevised without parting from the spirit or scope of the presentinvention. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below areindicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.

FIG. 2 depicts a system 200 for packaging medications according to thedisclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments relate to methods andprocesses to allow customizable dose modification by patient 102, theircaregivers and physicians 110 to improve compliance and efficacy ofmedications while reducing side effects.

As shown, system 200 includes patient 102. The term “patient 102” mayrefer to any person or entity that orders and makes medical decisions.Preferably, patient 102 refers to a patient, but also may refer to athird party entity that makes decisions on behalf of a patient. It maybe a caregiver, such as a nurse or aide. Patient 102 also could refer toa family member or trusted individual having the authority to makemedical decisions on behalf of the patient.

Patient 102 uses device 104 to access robot packing system 208 atpharmacy 206. Device 104 may be any device capable of connection to anetwork and displaying information received over the network. Forexample, device 104 may connect to the internet to allow patient 102access to other entities having IP-addressable devices. Preferably,device 104 uses a graphic user interface to display information topatient 102 and to receive input on customizing or modifying doses, asdisclosed below. Device 104 may include a smartphone, tablet, laptop,personal computer, and the like.

In an alternative embodiment, patient 102 may view information withinpharmacy 206, in person. Patient 102 can tell a pharmacist how he or shewould like to customize their medication dosage. Further, patient 102may fill out a form or paper to customize or modify medication dosage.Patient 102 also may do this at a doctor's office or anyplace else thatprovides medical services, such as a hospital or rehab location. In ahospital, patient 102 may inform a caregiver, who then provides theappropriate information to robot packing system 208.

Thus, patient 102 views the medication information online or in person.Patient 102 has the option to modify the dosage timing of the medicationaccording to their preferred lifestyle or preferences. Patient 102 maydrag and drop medicines into appropriate time slots, and modify the timewith a click, tap, voice command, double click and the like. Thiscustomization will be effective once the pharmacy, or the doctor,approves the new schedule if approval is deemed to be necessary.

Robot packing system 208 may reside in pharmacy 206, but also may belocated within any location. Once the customization instructions frompatient 202 are received. Robot packing system 208 retrieves medicine(s)from inventory 214. Inventory 214 may be medicine, over-the-counterdrugs or medical supplies. Typically, these materials are controlledfrom public consumption and regulated.

Robot packing system 208 then places medicines specified in the requestfrom patient 202 into packs to generate medication pack 216. Medicationpack 216 may be sent or given to patient 202.

Approval from physician 210 may be sought prior to customization ormodification of the medicinal dosages. Pharmacy 206 or robot packingsystem 208 may send a message, text, or other form of communication tophysician 210 that approval is needed for the change in medicine. Onceapproval is given, then robot packing system 208 may be activated. Theprocesses and methods related to these components are disclosed ingreater detail below.

System 200 includes server 216, which may be connected to robot packingsystem 208. Server 216 may stores software or instructions to operaterobot packing system 208. It also may store the customizations andmodifications for retrieval by patient 202. Records and otherinformation may be stored at server 216. Other pharmacies may accessserver 216 as well.

Robot packing system 208 is disclosed in greater detail by FIG. 3. Robotpacking system 208 may be located within a pharmacy, hospital,rehabilitation center and the like where medicines are dispensed. Oncethe customization or modification of medicine dosage is received, thenthe medication packs may be assembled according to the desiredconfiguration.

Drug cartridges 302 are located at the top of robot packing system 208.Drug cartridges 302 may include the medicines requested by patient 202and selected from inventory 214. Drug cartridges 302 also may be locatedon the sides. This configuration gives flexibility of easy operation forthe online changing of the drug cartridges. Drug cartridges 302 also maybe known as drug trays.

Drug cartridge 302 may be rectangular with a cylinder underneath.Medicines slide into several channels on the edges of the cylinder ofdrug cartridge 302. Rotation of the drug cartridge causes channels topass over a hole. An optical sensor ensures only one pill, or medicine,drops as a channel is over a hole. These commands relate to thecustomizations or modifications selected by patient 202 according to thedisclosed embodiments.

Drug cartridge 302 also includes radio frequency identification (RFID)tags for easy inventor and identification. The RFID relates to adifferent drug or medicine. This allows the robot to check that themedicine dropping from drug cartridge 302 matches the one indicated bythe disclosed customization or modification. RFID sensors of the robotdetect which canister, or cartridge, is where within the system. A lightemitting diode (LED) may be included and flashes when drug cartridge 302is empty. A brushed direct current (DC) motor may move cartridges.

The medications fall from drug cartridges 302 into hopper 304. Hopper304 may go from a wide opening to a narrow bottom opening. The bottomopening may be a square having a length of about 4.25 inches toaccommodate placing medications into drop tray 304. From hopper 304, themedications fall to drop tray 306. Drop tray 306 includes a door 308 sothat the medicines fill up the tray before the next step. Hopper 304channels medications to drop tray 306. Hopper 304 may be acrylic and ofa clear or a transparent color to allow a user to look into it.

Drop tray 306 may be of a black or dark color with a matte surface. Thisfeature allows drop tray 306 to be used for image processing. A cameratakes photos or video of the medicines as they accumulate on drop tray306. Drop tray 306 also holds the medicines temporarily while an x-ytable moves to the required slot while the medicines are dropping. Thisincreases the speed of packaging the medicines. The disclosedembodiments do not have to wait for the required slots to be in positionbefore dropping the medicines. This configuration also may include aservo motor to open and close door 306 along with a door shaft connectedthereto. A drop door box may enclose this entire assembly.

The above configuration also may include a small hopper to receive themedicines dropped by drop tray 306. A tunnel may be connected to thesmall hopper. The tunnel has a certain height that prevents medicinesfrom bouncing back into the small hopper when it is dropped into thepre-fill tray. The tunnel includes a tunnel wall that prevents medicinesfrom slipping into another slot. The tunnel opening should be smallerthan the slots in the pre-fill tray, so the tunnel wall covers the topof a slot opening to prevent medicines from falling or bouncing out.

The disclosed configuration also may include a pre-fill tray thatincludes a specified number of slots. The preferred number may be about28 slots. The medicines are held here until dropped into the blisterpacks. The pre-fill tray includes a pre-fill tray door to hold themedicines.

When cavity holder, or blister pack, 312 moves beneath transfer plate312, the pre-fill tray door opens to drop medicines 310. Preferably,medicines 310 are a plurality of pills. Medicines 310 also may be knownas medicine doses. As stepper motor may drive the pre-fill tray door.Transfer plate 312 allows robot packing system 208 to fill manydifferent packs or vials. Transfer plate 312 packs cavity holder 312.The dimension of slots in the pre-fill tray is different from thedimension of slots in the blister pack. So transfer plate 312 is needed.Transfer plate 312 has small tubes which will direct medicines 310 tofall from the pre-fill tray into the slots of the blister pack, orcavity holder 312.

Once medicines 310 fill cavity holder 312, the package is forwarded tosealing station 316. A round table configuration may facilitate thisprocess. The round table may have a diameter of about 56 inches anddriven by a stepper motor. It may include about 5 sections/tray slots.Sealing station 316 may located on the right side of the round table.One or more infrared photodiodes may ensure accurate turning of theround table. The photodiodes also detect the packs on the round table,and automatically raises a warning if a pack is not present whenmedicines are dropped.

The round table also includes manual controls to manually turn the tableas needed. The controls may move the table left or right. The manualcontrols also include a manual control for heat sealing the package.Thus, an operator may perform the process manually as opposed toautomatic. The controls also include an emergency heat seal release.

The package is heat sealed in order to keep the medicines stable and toprevent spilling the contents. Sealing station 316 does this. Sealingstation 316 may be use a step-based actuator. An emergency releasebutton may be included on sealing station 316 along with an openablecover to prevent accidents. A laser curtain on openings of the coverdetects when a hand is near in order to shutdown and prevents injury.The package is then sent to printing station 318. Printing station 318retrieves the instructions for the customization or modification frompatient 202 from server 216. After this, pack 216 is made available atthe pharmacy, hospital and the like for pick up by patient 202.

The disclosed embodiments also include a manual packaging process forpreparing packages for medicine dispensing. This process may be used bythose pharmacists who do not have robot packing system 208. Thepharmacist may dispense the medication manually upon the approval of themodified dosage regimen.

FIG. 3 a depicts another embodiment of robot packing system 208. Thesystem shown in FIG. 3 a further illustrates the embodiments andfeatures disclosed above. As can be seen, system 208 includes the systemafter the medicine is released from the canister, or drug cartridge 302of FIG. 3. Here, main hopper 1 receives the medicine and channels themto drop door 2. Camera stand la supports camera lb, which may be usedfor quality assurance or counting operations, as disclosed above. Mainhopper 1 may be transparent.

Medicines, preferably in the form of pills, accumulate on drop door 2.Servo motor 3 opens and closes drop door 2 when packing system 208 givesthe instructions to release the medicines. Door shaft 4 connects servomotor 3 and drop door 2 and actuates drop door 2. Drop door box 5 is asquare box that encloses the drop door assembly.

Small hopper 6 channels medicine released from drop door 2 into smalltunnel 7. Tunnel wall 8 prevents medicine from jumping into another slotor falling away. Pre-fill tray 9 holds medicines before they are droppedinto the pack. Pre-fill tray doors 10 holds the medicines untilinstructions are received from robot packing system 208 to release.Stepper motor 11 drives pre-fill tray doors 10. Doors 10 release whentransfer plate 12 is above the medicine pack and below pre-fill tray 9.

Other configurations of robot packing system 208 may be used accordingto the disclosed embodiments. Transfer plate 12 may reflect thecustomized or modified dosage schedule desired by patient 202.

Further according to the disclosed embodiments, vials may be used in theabove-disclosed robot packing system. A vial is basically a bottle or acontainer that contains only one type of drug. For example, if theprescription calls for Erythromycin as the only medicine on the dosageschedule for a period of time (such as two weeks), then the medicine maybe placed into a vial. Instead of putting all the pills of Erythromycinin a pack that has compartments and different bubbles, the disclosedembodiments put it all in one bottle (a vial) and label the bottle.Thus, a vial is a container that does not have different compartment anddoes not separate the tablets. When there are multiple medications aspart of the prescription which differ in times/days and quantity andtype, then it makes sense to put these medications into a bubble pack. Avial or vials also may be used in conjunction with the disclosedmedicine packs.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart 400 customizing the medication dose by apatient 202 or other party according to the disclosed embodiments. Step402 executes by compiling information from the insurance records ofpatient 202. Insurance claims and histories may be made available foruse by the disclosed embodiments. Step 404 executes by compiling oraccessing medical records (“Rx records”) for patient 202. The medicalrecords may be made available subject to HIPAA rules and regulations, aswell as federal and state law, or any laws and regulations governing theuse of medical records and privacy.

Step 406 executes by compiling or accessing prescriber records. Theserecords may be located at the pharmacy or across databases for largepharmacies. Patient 202 may switch medical providers, and, thus, themedical records of step 404 may not be totally available. Patient 202,however, may use the same pharmacy, so these records provide moreconsistent or comprehensive information than medical records. Step 408executes by compiling central store records for patient 202.

Step 410 executes by receiving input from patient 202 regardingcustomizing or modifying a medical dosage. A caretaker or otherentity/person may perform this step. Patient 202 may provide thisinformation via a web-enabled device, as disclosed above, or through thephone, such as a call-in feature, or a text (SMS) message. Patient 202enters the desired information, or makes it available to the disclosedembodiments of the present invention.

Step 412 executes by accessing the medicine store, also called MyDoses,by patient 202 with their request. Alternatively, patient 202 may accessthe system configuration shown in FIG. 2. Step 414 executes by patient202 viewing his or her medical dosages. The patient may view the datesand times of the dosages, as shown in greater detail below.

Step 416 executes by modifying the preferred dose time of the dosespertaining to patient 202. If no medical doses are set up, then patient202 may customize the doses for a new order. Patient 202 may manipulatea graphical user interface or an application to set the dose times.

Step 418 executes by determining whether approval is required byphysician 210 or some other entity. For example, a health insuranceprovider may require approval before allowing medicines to be dispensed.If no approval is needed, then flowchart 400 moves to step 424. Ifapproval is needed, then step 420 executes by determining whether thecustomized or modified dosage is approved by physician 210 or otherentity. If not approved, then step 422 executes by stopping andnotifying patient 202. The dispensing process is halted until this issueis resolved.

Step 420 also may compare the desired doses to the records andinformation compiled in step 402-408 to make sure that the customized ormodified doses do not cause any potential medical problems, and that thedoses are compatible with each other. Problems may be identified here,and patient 202 or physician 210 or the pharmacist alerted.

If step 420 determines that the customization or modification isapproved, then flowchart 400 moves to step 424. Step 424 executes byapproving the medical dispensing customization or modification fordispensing. Pharmacy 206 may do this. Step 426 executes by dispensingthe medicine according to the disclosed embodiments. Robot packingsystem 208 may dispense and create the medicine packages as disclosedabove.

Step 428 executes by exiting flowchart 400. The records compiled oraccessed in steps 402 through 408 may be updated accordingly. Thedisclosed embodiments track the modifications or customizations made tothe existing prescription and update it into server 216 for pharmacy 206to make the relative change into the medication packs.

The disclosed embodiments result in a more accurate and specificpackaging for the patient, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 depicts animproved packaging configuration of patient-customized medicationsaccording to the disclosed embodiments. The number of packs may bereduced using the above methods and processes. Here, packs 502 and 504are shown, which hold the medication dosages shown in FIG. 1, but in areduced number of packs. This helps prevent waste and improvesconvenience for the patient.

The medications are dispensed by day slots 508 and time slots 506created in the packs according to the information provided by patient202. The time slots 506 are created horizontally to enable patient 202to take his or her medication based on the preferred schedule. Of coursethe columns and rows may be swapped so that the columns represent daysand the rows represent times. The time of each time slot is printed atthe head (end) of the respective column (row) by printing station 318,which also prints the patient's name and any special instructions.Indeed the entire top face of each pack, as illustrated in FIG. 5, withrows and columns to correspond to underlying bubbles or compartments maybe printed by printing station 318, together with days and times anddifferent graphic representations of different medications (and/or otherinformation specific to the underlying contents), each in a respectiverow/column intersection. The precise packaging methods disclosed abovereduce the excess waste of packs and provide better compliance andefficacy with fewer side effects for patient 202.

Custom time slot 510 represents the preferred slot selected by patient202 according to the methods and processes disclosed above. Using device204, patient 202 puts a time into a graphic representation of a slot,and then drags and drops a graphic representation of the appropriatemedicine for that slot. Additional custom time slots may be introducedby simply adding them to the end of the horizontal column (subject tothe constraint that there are sufficient columns in the bubble pack orcompartments in the packaging).

Further, the disclosed embodiments can auto track prescription updateddone by providers and alerts patient 202 and physician 210. Thisinnovative approach allows immediate updates of prescription changesinto its next medication packs. Patient 202 may receive a change ofmedication report along with instructions on how to remove a medication.This information also may be provided to a nurse or caregiver, which maybe more applicable to an assisted living or other residential settinghaving medical staff on-call or available.

The disclosed embodiments, therefore, provides the following advantagesover the conventional art. A patient can decide to take the medicine ata preferred time. Referring to FIG. 5, patient 202 may space out thedosages as they please. For example, the 7:30 am dose may be takenbefore breakfast while the 8:30 am dose ensures that it is taken on afull stomach. Another patient may configure the pack to show the firstdosage as a 9 am dose before breakfast, and a 10 am dose on the fullstomach. In the conventional method, it is not possible for a patient tomodify the doses per his or her convenience or preference.

The disclosed embodiments also may include a combination of routinemedications and non-routine medications. The routine medications may beplaced in one slot, or bubble, with the non-routine medications placedin another slot, or bubble. This configuration may prevent confusion ora mishap by patient 202 by taking the wrong medication, especially ifthey do not need to take a non-routine medication. For example, patient202 is getting 10 pills per pack, of which 7 are going to be routine(i.e., daily doses) for a long period of time and 3 are non-routine(i.e., take when needed). The disclosed embodiments may place the 7routine pills in one bubble and other 3 in a single bubble. In otherwords, there may be different slots for these medicines such that thebubbles do not exactly match what is shown in FIG. 5. Three separatebubbles may be used in the event there are three different types ofdrugs.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of a label 600 for use in a medication dosagedispensing system according to the disclosed embodiments. The labelshave been customized or modified and printed out for use on the medicinepack or onto vials. Label 600 is an example only, and the disclosedembodiments may include other variations. Label 600 may provide a visualguide to various medicines within the pack as well as dosageinformation. Thus, patient 202 may be able to easily track the types ofmedicine and the dosage times/days.

The approach presented by the disclosed embodiments allows the patientto modify the doses that can be sent to the doctor or pharmacy toapprove the changes for the next medication pack. The patient would needto adhere to the doctor's prescription, and this feature is ensured byrequiring approval, as disclosed above.

A patient may place his or her request for their medication packs fromany location having a wireless or wired connection to a network. Thepatient uploads the request for customization or modification centrallyto any pharmacy regardless of ownership. This feature allows the patientto obtain the medication in a preferred dosing and packagingconfiguration from any location. The patient is not limited to receivingthe preferred dosage within the medicine packs for a “regular” pharmacy,but from any pharmacy. This is especially convenient for a patient thattravels frequently, or resides in multiple places.

As shown by the configuration depicted in FIG. 5, the disclosedembodiments reduce the amount of packaging materials utilized in makingthe medicine packs. The packs are made according to a customizedconfiguration so the redundancy is eliminated. There will not be fourpacks with an “A.M.” slot on them.

A novel process of customizing or modifying the daily doses ofmedications is disclosed. This process includes sending a request forapproval from the patient to the doctor or pharmacy to modify the dosingschedule of at least one medication for a particular time schedule to beincluded in the next medication pack. The process also includesuploading, if necessary, the request for approval by the doctor or thepharmacy for the customization or modification of the at least onemedication. Approval for the configured packaging of the customized ormodified medication by the doctor or the pharmacy is communicated with amessage to the patient. The process also includes dispensing of themedication manually or by a robotic automated dispensing system based onthe dosing selection by the patient or a medical professional.

The request from the patient to the doctor or the pharmacy may be madevia suitable communication modes, such as the Internet, smartphone,tablet, phone, and the like.

The auto dispensing of the medication is completed time-based manuallyor by a robotic automated system by creating slots on each packaccording to day followed by a time schedule for each day as configuredby the patient. This configuration may be reflected in the nextmedication pack generated. The slots are created by day, and each day isfurther time-classified for medication dispensed either manually or bythe robotic automated system.

The disclosed embodiments also include a process of customizing ormodifying the daily doses of medications. The patient has access to adatabase or server of the pharmacy, prescriber, or central prescriptionservice. The patient also may have access to an insurance company'ssystem. The patient may use this access to view and modify the dosage ortiming of the medication.

The disclosed embodiments also include a process of customizing ormodifying the daily doses of medications that allows the storing ofdefault preferences for dosing. The default preferences take intoaccount factors impacting medication efficacy, such drug interactions,time of day, food intake for best efficiency, and the like. It should beappreciated that the disclosed embodiments could be offered as abusiness method on a subscription or fee basis. For example, system 10including transaction process 28 could be created, maintained ordeployed by a service provider that offers the functions describedherein for customers. A service provider could offer to deploy orprovide the ability to process a logo and other content to generate awebsite using the disclosed processes.

In addition to being implemented as system and processes, the disclosedembodiments may be provided as a program product stored on acomputer-readable medium, which, when executed, enables system 200 androbot packing system 208 to generate the medicine packs. To this extent,the computer-readable medium may include program code, which implementsthe processes and system disclosed herein. The term “computer-readablemedium” includes one or more of any type of physical embodiment of theprogram code implementing the steps to execute the disclosed processes.In particular, the computer-readable medium can comprise program codeembodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture, suchas a compact disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, a magnetic disk, a tape andthe like, on one or more data storage portions of a computing device,such as a memory.

As used herein, the terms “program code” and “computer program code” aresynonymous and refer to any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions that cause a computing device havingan information processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after any combination of the following: (a)conversion to another language, code or notation; (b) reproduction in adifferent material form; or (c) decompression. To this extent, programcode can be embodied as one or more types of program products, such asan application/software program, component software/library offunctions, an operating system, a basic input/output system/driver for aparticular computing or input/output device and the like. Terms such as“component” and “system” are synonymous as used herein and represent anycombination of hardware or software capable of performing somefunction(s).

The block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture,functionality and operation of possible implementations of system 200and flowchart 400, plus possible computer program products. Each blockin the block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion ofcode, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). The functions noted inthe blocks may occur out of order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently,or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, dependingupon the functionality involved. Each block of the block diagrams can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations may be made in the disclosed embodiments ofthe disclosed methods and systems without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers the modifications and variations of the embodiments disclosedabove provided that the modifications and variations come within thescope of any claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for packagingmedicine doses for a patient, the method comprising: modifying orcustomizing a dosage schedule for at least one medicine, wherein thepatient selects a day or time to receive a dose of the at least onemedicine; uploading the modified or customized dosage schedule forapproval by a doctor, caregiver or pharmacy using a device connected toa network; receiving the approval for the modified or customized dosageschedule; and dispensing the at least one medicine into a customized ormodified medicine pack according to the dosage schedule.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing includesdispensing the at least one medicine using a robot packing system tocreate the customized or modified medicine pack.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein using the robot packingsystem includes creating slots within the medicine pack for the day orthe time selected by the patient.
 4. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the uploading using the device includes using agraphical user interface supported by the device.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising notifying thepatient through the device if no approval is received for the modifiedor customized dosage schedule.
 6. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the device includes a computer, laptop, tablet,smartphone or a station within a pharmacy.
 7. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, further comprising accessing a database or server bythe patient to review the dosage schedule.
 8. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, further comprising considering a factor impactingmedication efficacy when generating the dosage schedule.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the factor includes druginteraction, time of day, food intake or liquid intake.
 10. Apatient-pharmacy medicine management system comprising: a device used bya patient to customize or modify a dosage schedule, and to upload thedosage schedule to a network; a medicine dispensing system connected tothe network and configured to create a medicine pack according to thedosage schedule, wherein an approval is received by the medicinedispensing system by a caregiver for the dosage schedule.
 11. Themedicine management system of claim 10, further comprising a printingstation to print the dosage schedule onto the medicine pack.
 12. Themedicine management system of claim 10, wherein the medicine packincludes slots configured according to the dosage schedule, andindicating a date to time to take a dose of the at least one medicine.13. The medicine management system of claim 10, wherein the medicinedispensing system is located at a pharmacy.
 14. The medicine managementsystem of claim 13, wherein the dosage schedule pertains to a pluralityof medicines placed in a plurality of bubbles on the medicine pack. 15.The medicine management system of claim 10, further comprising adatabase to store the dosage schedule.
 16. A method for creating amedicine pack according to a dosage schedule, the method comprising:modifying or customizing the dosage schedule by a patient selectingslots for a day or time to take a dose of medicine; sending the dosageschedule over a network to a doctor, pharmacy or a caregiver; receivingapproval for the dosage schedule; and packaging the medicine into amedicine pack according to the dosage schedule.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the packaging includes using a robot packing system toconfigure the medicine pack according to the dosage schedule.
 18. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the sending includes uploading the dosageschedule from a device connected to the network.
 19. The method of claim16, further comprising using a graphical user interface supported by thedevice to modify or customize the dosage schedule.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the medicine pack includes a plurality of slotsconfigured horizontally according to the dosage schedule.